DIPLOMATIC NEWS - AT 7:03 P.M. ET: 

MARACAY, Venezuela (Reuters) - The United States and Venezuela will soon reinstate ambassadors expelled in a diplomatic spat last year, a sign of warmer relations between President Hugo Chavez and what he calls the U.S. "empire."

Leftist Chavez has toned down his strident criticism of U.S. foreign policy since Barack Obama took office in January, partly because the U.S. president is popular in Latin America in contrast to his predecessor George W. Bush.

Obama, in turn, has pledged to engage with countries considered problematic by the United States.

COMMENT:  This news comes on the same day that we learn that we're returning our ambassador to Syria, another gem of a regime.  It is simply another indication of the march to the left by the Obama administration.  It comes in the same week when the president of the United States had to be dragged by his former opponent, John McCain, into a statement endorsing the drive for Iranian democracy.

Aren't you proud of your government again?

June 24, 2009